Like so many other things, we decide whether or not to have paid cleaning help based on outside expectations. If everyone in the neighborhood has cleaning help then we need it too, right? There are worse ways to spend one's money, and doing without can be foolish in some circumstances. But overall, cleaning help falls into the luxury category. Over the years I have had my share of ozrot (helpers). I went in cycles: Do without for a long period of time, get frustrated by a neglected house, have someone convince me how necessary it is for young mothers to have help, and finally, break down and hire one. She would come, "tut tut" over the state of the house, and restore it to order over a … [Read more...]